A lifelong love story

WHAT started as a teenage romance for Margaret and Bob Barry has turned into a lifelong love story spanning six decades.

The pair met as fresh faced 16-year-olds in East Fremantle and today celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary.

On their first date Bob arrived on his Ariel 500cc motorbike to pick up Margaret proudly wearing her new hand-made silk gown ready for dancing.

Only three minutes down the road Margaret’s dress got caught in the bike chain and was torn off, she was not impressed.

Needless to say Margaret won over Bob’s prized bike, he later sold it for 11 pounds to help buy his love an engagement ring.

In stricter times, Bob’s family told him he could not marry until he was 21, so on March 10, just seven days after his 21st birthday, Margaret and Bob were married at St John’s Anglican Church Fremantle.

Two children, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren later, the 83-year-olds are enjoying a quiet retirement in Northam, where they have lived the past 11 years.

They have travelled the world together and until recently were avid grey-nomads taking their caravan around Australia.

Both are cancer survivors and have been each other’s carer for many years.

Daughter Julie and son Peter threw their parents a surprise party today to celebrate.

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